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Oke, thanks for the feedback everybody. You guys are making me wonder if I'm gonna go for the Nord piano 2 or the RD 700 NX.... In terms of MIDI, is there really a big difference? I mean I'm planning to connect my "new stage piano" to a (usb) audio interface via a MIDI cable and what happens after that.. NO idea, but can you really hear the difference?

When it comes to MIDI, it's not a matter of sound quality, you won't hear a difference, rather it's a matter of MIDI features. Like, do you want buttons on the piano to be able to call up different sounds over MIDI? Do you want to have volume controls for both internal and external sounds on the piano? Do you want pitch bend and modulation controls? etc.

Originally Posted By: Ray Xavier

Everybody here is confinsing me that the RD 700 NX is a wonderful instrument (and I believe that) but I must say that when I was playing on the RD 300 NX I didn't really like it. Is it really such a difference between the two?

Yes, especially in the action.

Originally Posted By: Ray Xavier

And when you're looking at the piano library's.. does Nord beat Roland?

In terms of number of different piano sounds available, yes. In terms of the quality of piano sounds, IMO, no, but that's subjective. If you're using MIDI, though, you also have the possibility of adding different piano sounds to either one that way (as long as you're willing to be connected to another device while playing... in this case, typically a computer).

Isn't the RD-700NX a full 4-zone controller, i.e. like the MP6, whereas the MP10 is more piano but less controller?

Well yes but the MP10 does that too ...easier.

I just checked the manual, it looks like the MP10 supports only one MIDI zone (two zones total). The MP6 and (and I think the RD-700NX) support four MIDI zones, so when it comes to being a 4-zone controller, it would not be right to say that "MP10 does that too."

Isn't the RD-700NX a full 4-zone controller, i.e. like the MP6, whereas the MP10 is more piano but less controller?

Well yes but the MP10 does that too ...easier.

I just checked the manual, it looks like the MP10 supports only one MIDI zone (two zones total). The MP6 and (and I think the RD-700NX) support four MIDI zones, so when it comes to being a 4-zone controller, it would not be right to say that "MP10 does that too."

Yeah well the RD is also fully 16 part Multi if you want it to be. But the MP10 is a very easy controller to use. My 7yo daughter uses it with ease.

_________________________
"I'm still an idiot and I'm still in love" - Blue Sofa - The Plugz 1981 (Tito Larriva) Disclosure : I am professionally associated with Arturia but my sentiments are my own only.

origen, congrats on the purchase of your new RD-700NX! I agree, it's a fantastic board!

May I ask why you felt the Roland is superior to the Kawai in terms of MIDI features? I'm just wondering if there's perhaps something missing from the MP10's interface or connectivity?

Cheers,Jamesx

I was actually mistaken in my original statement on the 700nx and mp10 not comparing in midi mode, they do actually compare quite well and I will edit my post to reflect that, the 700nx appears to only be slightly better in the fact that you can split it into 4 zones and layer those, but so far I haven't needed to do that, so for me they are really quite similar. I do however really enjoy many of the synths and bass synth patches which the mp10 doesn't really have, and one other note - the Jazz Scat patch (1st one in choirs) is sooooo fun to play around with. I havent had this much fun with one patch in a long time. Its kind of corny but the way the notes change with key velocity makes trying to play songs much more interesting. Im working on Ben Folds "The Luckiest" right now and loving life. One of the great underrated artists of our time.

Im working on Ben Folds "The Luckiest" right now and loving life. One of the great underrated artists of our time.

+1

Beno's da man !!!!

_________________________
"I'm still an idiot and I'm still in love" - Blue Sofa - The Plugz 1981 (Tito Larriva) Disclosure : I am professionally associated with Arturia but my sentiments are my own only.

Nope but it is another thing it can do that most stages can't.I can't imagine many people using it as a feature however the RD has a lot of patches and whiles the organs and EP's are not exactly first class the pads, strings and synth patches are excellent.

_________________________
"I'm still an idiot and I'm still in love" - Blue Sofa - The Plugz 1981 (Tito Larriva) Disclosure : I am professionally associated with Arturia but my sentiments are my own only.

700NX and FP7F have the same action; 300NX and FP4F have the same action as each other, but not the same as the 700NX/FP7F.

I wonder? They are visually, or cosmetically, different.

To me the actions of the 700NX and FP7 feel different, though not a lot. It may have something to do with how they're bedded in different boards. I can also accept the possibility that the seeming difference is all in my head.

The difference between RD (700NX) and FP (7F) action is just the key surface. The actions are mechanically identical. FP has a whiter - and probably more resilient - fake ivory key covering and the key assembly is all one colour. RD has the fake wood colour underneath a slightly more textured fake ivory surface. Any other perceived difference is just to do with the chassis or structure of the slab itself or of course any settings that may be different such as touch curve or offset etc.

Version 2 of the RD700-NX has the same keybed as the FP7-F. The all white keys and more resilient ivory touch have been introduced across both boards due to complaints about the original keybed of the FP7-F and RD700-NX. (Ivory Touch rubbed off for example)

One thing that I don't see talked about around here very much is mono-compatibility. If you're shopping for something that you intend to use LIVE on stage you should check to see how it sounds though a single speaker in mono. Not all digital pianos are created equal when it comes to this. Just my $.02

I applaud Casio for considering the importance of a piano patch that still sounds good in mono - these intelligent moves will be greatly appreciated by gigging players.

I'm just curious though, can you explain a little more about how the PX-5S will function in mono? Is it using some clever summing algorithms, or are there separate mono versions of the stereo patch?

Obviously mono compatibility has to do with a lot of things that are done during the sampling process. Mic placement that sounds great in stereo can cause all kinds of phase cancellation problems when summed to mono.

They PX-5S (in its current beta software state) has two Mono grand piano sounds. We tested them at NAMM through the PA when we found them and they sounded great. No dramatic change in tone or character. If I were to guess they've summed them somehow.

On the "synthy" side (Hex Layers) of the PX-5S you can grab each of the four layers of the piano samples, including the left and right side separately. I'll have to try variations between using just the Left or Right vs using Both at the same time and without panning to see if I can figure what they've done.

This is one of my criticisms of the Nord piano sounds - they sound fantastic in stereo (especially through headphones), but when summed to mono or just played using one channel, suffer terribly.

I applaud Casio for considering the importance of a piano patch that still sounds good in mono - these intelligent moves will be greatly appreciated by gigging players.

I'm just curious though, can you explain a little more about how the PX-5S will function in mono? Is it using some clever summing algorithms, or are there separate mono versions of the stereo patch?

Cheers,Jamesx

Just make sure you advertise it well. No point in having a great piano feature if no one really knows why it is better than the competition. Marketing is important. I hope the PX-5S sells well, it looks like a great piano.

_________________________
"I'm still an idiot and I'm still in love" - Blue Sofa - The Plugz 1981 (Tito Larriva) Disclosure : I am professionally associated with Arturia but my sentiments are my own only.